Photoworks Artist Venturing Labs — EASE: Crete 2026–2027

Photoworks is the UK's national photography commissioning agency, based in Brighton. Artist Venturing Labs is a programme produced with EASE (Entrepreneurship, Art & Science for Environmental Sustainability), an interdisciplinary research initiative funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, De Montfort University, and PicturingClimate.org.

The 2026–2027 lab takes place in Crete, with fieldwork across diverse Cretan locations exploring climate, landscape, and deep time alongside the scientific teams resident on the island. The selected artist commits to one week on site (autumn 2026) plus 24 months of online engagement with the EASE network. No academic background, entrepreneurship experience, or prior interdisciplinary practice is required — Photoworks explicitly invites applicants without an EASE-style track record.

The selected artist receives a £1,000 stipend for the week on site. All travel, accommodation, and meals are covered. The artist gets access to scientific teams, fellow artists in the EASE cohort, and Photoworks' venture-building support, with potential features on Photoworks' digital and editorial platforms.

Eligibility is restricted to UK-based artists, per the UKRI funding requirement. Application is via online form with either a 5-page PDF (expression of interest, bio, project examples, available lab dates) or a 3-minute audio or video recording. The deadline is June 29, 2026 at 23:59 BST.